'Project Runway' fan favorite designer dies at 39

Fashion designer and “Project Runway” competitor Mychael Knight died on Tuesday outside Atlanta, Georgia. He was 39 years old.

“We are still processing the untimely death of our son, brother, friend, and uncle. Mychael meant everything to us and we loved him dearly. He was generous and so full of life. This is how we choose to remember his legacy,” his family told Obvious magazine in a statement.

According to a TMZ report, Knight had checked into a hospital for treatment of intestinal issues. Though the cause of death is unknown, Knight revealed that he was battling irritable bowel syndrome in July and that it had “taken a toll” on his health.

Knight worked as a stylist before auditioning for “Project Runway.” He placed fourth on the third season and won the fan favorite award. He returned to the series to compete in a 2009 special “All-Star Challenge” and served as a contestant on the third season of “Project Runway All Stars.”

He launched his own label, Mychael Knight, on BET’s “Rip the Runway” in 2007 and a lingerie label, Kitty and Dick, in 2008.